History of English Colonization and the Roanoke Colony

Origins of English Colonization

  • The Protestant Reformation began in 1517 when Martin Luther challenged the authority of the Catholic Church.
  • In England and the rest of Europe, the crown and the church were unified; therefore, challenging the church was viewed as a direct challenge to the crown's power.
  • This era prompted new thinking regarding the practice of religion and the desire to escape established systems of authority.

The Elizabethan Era and Exploration Incentives

  • Queen Elizabeth I used the promise of religious freedom as a "carrot" to encourage people to settle in the New World.
  • The English crown offered to sponsor trips to gain a foothold in unexplored territories in exchange for allowing settlers to establish their own systems of worship.
  • This shift attracted families, not just explorers, who were willing to risk the dangers of the New World to start over and escape the existing system.

The Roanoke Colony and Virginia

  • Sir Walter Raleigh established the Roanoke Colony on Roanoke Island in 1585 on behalf of the English crown.
  • The colony was intended to be a religious settlement comprised of families.
  • Virginia was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth I, who was known as the "Virgin Queen."
  • By 1590, the settlers had disappeared; the cause of their disappearance, whether by conflict or relocation, remains a mystery.

English Naval Supremacy

  • In 1588, under the leadership of Queen Elizabeth I, the English naval fleet defeated the Spanish Armada.
  • This victory shifted power over the seas to England, granting the English crown control of the Atlantic.
  • Establishing control of the sea allowed England to become the dominant force in the colonization of North America.

Historical Impact on Religious Freedom

  • The desire to practice religion freely, originating from the 1517 Protestant Reformation, was the primary motivation for the English colonization of America.
  • This motivation directly influenced the later creation of the United States Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of religion.